The Dow closed at a record for a fourth straight session Wednesday after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates and raised its U.S. gross domestic product growth target for 2018 to 2.5% from 2.1%. 'Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in November indicates that the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been rising at a solid rate,' said the Fed in announcing its decision. The S&P 500 , however, slipped into the red toward the closing bell, dropping a point to 2,663. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 84 points, or 0.3%, to 24,589 and the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 13 points, or 0.2%, to 6,875.

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Treasury yields held onto its earlier fall after the Federal Open Market Committee voted to raise rates by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday, bringing it up to between 1.25% and 1.50%. The Fed stuck to its forecast for three rate increases in 2018. They also forecast U.S. GDP forecasts to rise to 2.5% next year from 2.1% and unemployment to fall to 3.9%. The 10-year Treasury note yield was at 2.362%, from 2.403% on late Tuesday. The 2-year note yield 1.803%, from 1.829%. The 30-year bond yield 2.741%, versus 2.782%.

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U.S. stocks extended gains Wednesday as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for a third time this year as widely expected. The central bank also raised its 2018 U.S. gross domestic product growth forecast to 2.5% from 2.1% and indicated that it will likely increase rates three times in 2018. The S&P 500 rose 6 points, or 0.2%, to 2,670 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 132 points, or 0.5%, to 24,637. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 29 points, or 0.4%, to 6,890.

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PoliticoWASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page argued in court papers on Tuesday that AT&T Inc should not be permitted to buy CNN parent Time Warner Inc because there was a risk it would lead to 'recklessness' in journalism Justice Department Finds Ally In Battle Over AT&T Time Warner: Former Trump Advisor Carter PageDeadlineFormer Trump Adviser Carter Page Files Brief in AT&T Antitrust CaseLaw.com

Bitcoin futures were under selling pressure on Wednesday as the digital currency, which has captured the attention of Wall Street and Main street alike, was down sharply and facing its worst day in its short period on futures markets. The January contract trading on the Cboe Global Market Inc. since Sunday was down more than 10% in recent trade at $16,190, which triggers a 2-minute pause in trade according to the exchange's trading rules. The move for the digital asset comes as Interactive Brokers Group Inc., said it would allow investors to bet against, or short, bitcoin. Bitcoin futures trading halts for 5 minutes after a 20% drop.

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(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co's deal to buy film, television and international businesses from Rupert Murdoch's Twenty-First Century Fox Inc will value the latter at over $40 per share, or $75 billion, a person familiar with the matter said.

BloombergTarget Corp. agreed to purchase grocery-delivery startup Shipt Inc. for $550 million, stepping up its challenge to Amazon.com Inc. by speeding the rollout of same-day shipping. The all-cash deal will let Target customers order groceries and other goods Target To Acquire Shipt for $550 Million to Speed Up Same-Day DeliveryFortuneDelivery wars ramp up as Target buys online delivery service ShiptUSA TODAYTarget is acquiring Instacart competitor Shipt for $550 million to fight back against AmazonRecodeTechCrunch -Business Insider -

BloombergDelta Air Lines Inc. is leaning toward Airbus SE over Boeing Co. for an order of about 100 single-aisle jets that will be announced after the carrier's board makes a decision Wednesday, people familiar with the matter said. The negotiations include Delta set to place huge order with AirbusCNNMoneyAirbus expected to land key Delta orderSeeking Alpha

TODAYonline[ibd-display-video id=3019235 width=50 float=left autostart=true] Delta is seen buying 100 A321neos, sources told CNN, and will announce a deal later Wednesday after Delta's board of directors meets to vote on the purchase. The deal would also include Airbus expected to land key Delta orderSeeking AlphaDelta set to place huge order with AirbusCNNMoney

Target Corp. said Wednesday that it has agreed to acquire Shipt, an online same-day grocery delivery company, for $550 million in cash. The deal is expected to close before the end of 2017. Target shares are up 1.6% in Wednesday trading. Target expects to make same-day delivery service to guests at about half of the company's 1,834 stores by early 2018 and at the majority of stores before the 2018 holiday season. By the end of 2019, same-day delivery will include all major merchandise categories, the company said. Shipt was founded in Birmingham, AL in 2014. A membership-based grocery marketplace that uses a network of more than 20,000 personal shoppers for same-day delivery, Shipt will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Target and continue to operate independently. Shipt's Chief Executive Bill Smith will continue in his role, reporting to Target's Chief Operating Officer John Mulligan. All employees will continue to work from offices in Birmingham and San Francisco. The acquisition is a credit positive for Target, according to Moody's lead retail analyst Charlie O'Shea. 'While it will not affect Target's capability this holiday season, the fact that Target will have this service in place during 2018 will significantly improve its online competitive position as the service is integrated and rolled out to customers,' said O'Shea. 'This is yet another example of a brick-and-mortar retailer leveraging its physical assets to improve its online offerings.' Target's stock is down 20.2% for the last year while the S&P 500 index is up 17.6% for the period.

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New York TimesThe Federal Reserve's decision to raise its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday, the fifth increase since the financial crisis, will probably reach beyond Wall Street and into most American homes. Anyone with a credit card will see a small but instant Mortgage Loan Rate Changes Mixed, Applications Down Last Week24/7 Wall St.

It's easy to get lost in the blizzard of sales that hits every holiday season. Retailers hope to blow you away with promises of the lowest of prices and deepest of discounts. And while it is indeed one of the most wonderful times of year for many bargain-seekers, you may want to check your shopping list (twice) before plowing through stores. 'Many people just assume Black Friday and before Christmas is the best time to buy everything, but it is not,' says Eric Jones, co-owner of deals site BestBlackFriday.com.

That's part of why it's a good idea to keep your holiday shopping in mind all year long. Since you pretty much know who will be on your list for gift giving, you can come up with ideas for them at any time of year and pick up their gifts when you find a good deal -- no matter when that might be. 'If shoppers are savvy enough, they can time their spending throughout the calendar year so they hit as many of these sale seasons as possible, which can lead to big savings,' says Courtney Jespersen, consumer savings expert at personal finance site NerdWallet.

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Here are 13 items that shopping experts say you will be better off purchasing at other times of the year.